The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-02-24

the devil did you come from. any
waya''
!: The deck-hand known as English
. looked over the side of his bunk.
'.Look here, Bill Howe" he grum-
bled, do you mean ter say you're go
ing ter put that there kid out on the
frontP''
Il mean to say I'm going to do just
what blame please" said Bill.
well. yon ought to be ashamed OF
yourself. You white livered puppy
said the deckhand with some warmth.
s4.T'm pretty tough man myself, but
d--m me if I'm going to see such a
outrage as that. You go on back to
bed, sonny; FL take your place"
'.Naw you don't neither" retorted
Bill. 'tYou wouldn't come when /
called you, and I'm captain of the
gang. and what 1 say goes, and don't
you forget it and before English could
!; interfere he had caught the boy rudely
by the arm and pushed him from the
cabin.
..Kid'll be back inside o. ten min-
utes." reflected English, when he was
through cursing Bill Howe, and then he
Gsozed off to sleep again.
1t was terribly cold on deck. The
boy shivered az the man led him over
the long line of barges. Finally they
reached the last barge in front of the
steamer. There was torch burning
in an iron frame. The man told the
boy he must keep sharp look out
ahead, and when he saw a dangerous
drift coming toward them he must
signal the pilot by waving light.
'.Ali Pi-righk sir. - chartered the boy,
( and the man sWore at him two or three
I times and went back to the steamer
Ehe storm of wind and sleet was
over. The. night was beautiful and
I still The deep, measured breathing OF
s the tug away back in the rear, the
crushing Of the ice along the banks,
! and now and then the howl of a famlsh.
led wolf from the swamp lands on either
shore only made the frozen silence
more awful and sublime. And above
him the stars seemed doubly brilliant
Through the clear, cold air, and before
him was the great, mad river filled
|: With flashing fantastic, ghostly forms
that moved. and changed, and waved,
land seemed to beckon him. And il
was so cold. SO terribly. deathly cold.
An hUur-two hours went by. The
boy kept his eyes fastened on the river,
but every bone in his frail body was
trembling and his face was purple. The
cold hurt him; 1t was an agony. He sat
down on the front of the barge. Once
he looked back at the headlight of the
tug, back to the glowing warmth of the
furnace.
Il must try and stand it." he kept re-
peating to himself, and presently he
took from his ragged jacket a little box.
and opened it. Il contained Il t.ne:tp
black breastpin. He had sn44nt bis lasI
cent in Christmas gift for his mother.
He looked at it, and it seemed to warm
hiaa. The Geld didn't hurt him any
more. A pleasant dreamy sensation
was stealing over him. He thought he
would lie down with his head on his
arm; he could watch the river Just as
well. And then-no, he could not be
dreaming-by some curious magic he
was at home ana his mother was with
him. How well he remembered the
bright, coy little room! And there
were his books and his music, Just rs
he had left them, and on the table by
the window bouquet of pretty flow
ers. 1t must be summer time, because
the window was open and the warm air
and glorious sunshine were dancing in
the room. And how pretty his mother
was as she took him in her arms and
bent and kissed him. And he nestled
his head in her bosom, and he felt her
warm breath on his cheek, and laughed
with gladness.
20. how Hove you, pretty mother, "
murmured happy little Ben, and be was
going to tell her about the tug. and the
captain and the strange forms on the
river. but it slipped from him and he
forgot it. He forgot everything.
The deckhand known as English
woke from sound sleep. and instantly
WHY hn annIH mr. aar-fan fhnr1nrhf ~
the boy. Not finding him in his cot.
he hastily put on a great shaggy over.
coat and went forward to relieve him
from the watch. He found little Ben
lying with his head on his arm, smile
was on lips. and IN his hand he held
his mothers gift, but his face was color
less as snow. and life had ceased to
beat in his heart. English bent over
him long time. Then he stood up,
and. perhaps unconsciously. took of
his hat.
Hes dead" said English, in a
strang. soft whisper.-AttGnta ConSti.
kALEpH.